It was nearly three in the morning and Simone was not yet home. Paul shut his eyes and opened them when he felt the bed move, he looked at the clock and it was four am. Simone woke him but he didn’t mind, she was home now, “Mmm late tonight.” he mumbled.
“Yes, sorry to wake you,” Simone replied, quietly.
Paul took her into his arms.
“Its late, you’re half asleep, I am dead tired.” She leaned over him and kissed him, gently. “Go back to sleep.”
Paul mumbled “OK”
The morning light and sounds had crept around the curtains, intruding into Paul’s sleep. He looked at the clock and saw it was after nine am. He heard the soft breathing of Simone and looked at her in the dim light. Her face was framed by her long hair, her sleep, deep and relaxed. He eased himself out of bed, performing his morning rituals, made himself a coffee, settled and started marking papers until Simone woke. His work gave him time to lose himself in his marking, as well as think about what happened last night.